With March just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning out this year's garden. You may think that your tiny New York City apartment has no room to grow delicious vegetables, but think again. All buildings may not have access to a porch or a yard, but there is one outdoor space that every apartment must have: a fire escape. Mike Lieberman, the brains behind the Urban Organic Gardener, grew a beautifully bountiful food-producing garden on his tiny 2" by 3" East Village fire escape, and by following his tips and tricks, you can do the same!

A Brooklyn native, Lieberman had no experience gardening or growing before he planted his fire escape garden. The fire escape was his first foray into small space urban gardening, and since the garden’s inception in 2009, Lieberman has amassed a wealth of knowledge on how to start growing your own food without the use of pesticides or fertilizers and without feeling restricted by space or experience.

Lieberman used a variety of containers to house his vegetable plants. He made three self-watering planters from five gallon food grade buckets, and he used 2-liter soda bottles to make smaller hanging planters. He successfully grew peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and swiss chard in the self-watering planters, while the hanging soda bottles hosted smaller herb plants and other types of lettuce.

Dozens of gardening and plant stores around the city sell the basic supplies you need to get your garden starter. Evaluate your space, pick your plants, and buy your supplies now so you can start growing your own delicious veggies as soon as spring has sprung!

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5 Comments

curveAugust 9, 2014 at 9:18 am

It's not a matter of kicking the plants off the fire escape during a fire. It's a matter of falling off the fire escape or falling on it and blocking the escape of others. There is a reason this is illegal and irresponsible and it is unbelievable that you could post such irresponsible encouragement of this practice. Shame on you.

Elissa.PaskinJanuary 10, 2014 at 2:33 pm

Fire escapes are for escaping fires. Growing a garden on it impedes access for both residents and firefighters. It is also illegal.
I hope in the future you will be more socially responsible.

mhopebishMay 21, 2012 at 4:18 pm

Firemen wouldn't think twice about kicking your gaden off the escape if they had to get through, and neither would I if I had to escape, so what's the big deal.

Juan PabloFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:43 am

What about the need to escape in case of fire?

morgan graysonFebruary 22, 2012 at 2:18 pm

I love the idea of urban gardening, but by having one on a fire escape, you risk endangering not only NYFD worker, but your neighbors and yourself. Our building has had two fires on upper floors and the escapes were used for just that--escape. I think figuring out indoor window gardens (I use hanging shelves) is a better method.